Trump Administration to Release Delayed Inflation Data Amid Social Security COLA Concerns

The Trump administration plans to release the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) data before November 1 despite the government shutdown, as it is crucial for calculating the upcoming Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA). The shutdown has halted most Bureau of Labor Statistics operations, but some staff are being called back to ensure the CPI data is published on time, which could impact the COLA announcement for 2026. Last year, beneficiaries received a 2.5% increase, with over 74 million people affected.